One of the issues I’ve struggled with over my years of homeschooling is the desire to do hands-on science projects with my children and the time/effort/inconvenience needed to gather all of the materials to do so. While I adore doing hands-on projects with my children, I do not enjoy gathering up all of the needed materials, running out at the last minute to purchase that
French is Fun
In grade 7, after years of low-key, informal French, our children start French is Fun 1. This inexpensive textbook from AMSCO works well for us, helping the children consolidate all their earlier knowledge and extending it dramatically. French is Fun, Book 1: Lively Lessons for Beginners, Third Edition by Gail Stein and Heywood Wald brings beginners to a reasonable level of proficiency. Students learn listening,
Teaching the Essay from Analytical Grammar
My oldest child is in 8th grade this year and is taking a Literary Analysis class for the first time. The class involves writing many literary analysis essays. Rather than dive right into the Literary Analysis class, I thought it would be prudent and fruitful to first teach her how to write a literary analysis essay. Even though I feel confident in my own writing,
Apples Spelling
Apples: Daily Spelling Drills for Secondary Students has been a wonderful addition to our middle school curricula. My daughter has been through years of spelling since she’s in 8th grade. I wasn’t quite ready to completely stop spelling instruction, but I didn’t want it to take up too much time and be drudgery this year either. Apples has been the perfect fit for us! Each
Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons from IEW
After trying many different writing programs, I am using a writing curriculum this year with my 4th and 6th grade sons that I KNOW I will continue using year after year. I am absolutely thrilled with the writing curriculum I purchased from the Institute for Excellence in Writing. More specifically, we are using Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons. Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons is one of many
Book of Time
Eldest girl was browsing her Tapestry of Grace notebook. “So it says here I’m supposed to keep a time line.” Then she saw the light bulb floating above my head. The Book of Time from our early Sonlight days. The book I set aside for later. I pulled it from the long-forgotten section of the History shelf. She was intrigued. Her enthusiasm drew a crowd.
My Access! Vantage Online Writing Course
My Access Home Edition is an online interactive writing program designed to be added to any curriculum seamlessly. You can purchase the program for three students for $99.95 HERE. From about first grade through high school this program will help your child develop valuable writing skills at his or her own pace. My Access is designed to take a central role in helping your child
Writer’s Inc and Write for College Writing Handbooks
The GreatSource Education Group, a Houghton Mifflin Company, has produced a variety of academically useful and reliable handbooks. Chief among them are the writing handbooks, including Writer’s Inc. and Write for College. Both books are intended for high school students. They present writing in an orderly manner, complete with lots of examples. These two handbooks contain enough writing information for several years’ worth of writing